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I have a small business customer who needs a solution similar to Acronis's SBS Server backup.

Essentially, I would like image based differential backups to be performed nightly to the external drive connected to their PowerEdge server. If anything crashes, I can guide them over the phone on how to restore the previous image via the Acronis startup restore option.

Here's the problem: the $499 price tag. I'm afraid the client is not willing to pay $500, especially since they are aware that the software does much more then they require (it does backups of Exchange for instance... which this customer does not need/use at all!).

Any other similar options? I know Windows Backup -- but on Windows 2003 SBS its simply terrible (no differentials, no easy bootup restore, terrible differential backups, etc).

voretaq7
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BSchlinker
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3 Answers3

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I solved this problem by looking into Paragon Drive Backup -- $250 less then Acronis and all of the features which the customer needed.

Saved the customer money while still achieving 100% of what the more expensive solution would have provided.

BSchlinker
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I'm currently looking at Clonezilla, which is an opensource ISO/USB-key to clone and restore PCs.

David Schmitt
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Take a look at Drive XML. From the Drive XML website:

DriveImage XML is an easy to use and reliable program for imaging and backing up partitions and logical drives.

Image creation uses Microsoft's Volume Shadow Services (VSS), allowing you to create safe "hot images" even from drives currently in use. Images are stored in XML files, allowing you to process them with 3rd party tools. Never again be stuck with a useless backup! Restore images to drives without having to reboot. DriveImage XML is now faster than ever, offering two different compression levels.

DriveImage XML runs under Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Vista and Windows 7 only. The program will backup, image and restore drives formatted with FAT 12, 16, 32 and NTFS.

It says it works fine on Server 2003, and technically SBS 2003 is Server 2003... but as most SBS people say "It's Just Different" so you might want to to a little bit of testing first.

Wesley
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